THE INDEPENDENT HOUSE
By: Paul Walters – APRADIO & RECORDING


There are few shows ever that combine musical acts that meld as they should. National touring acts usually want the under card to be significantly different than the headliner so as to not “upstage” thankfully The Hobart Art Theater isn’t that narrow minded.

Last nights The Wailers show with Hammond Indiana based Black Hand opening was from 7pm to 10pm 3 hours of inspiring vibe filled love-fest of Funk, Rock, Motown and Reggae all into one. If Black Hands jobs was to set the table for The Wailers they did it perfectly.

Opening with a cover of The Doors Love Me Two Times, Robert Nicsick, lead singer, comes out strong and charismatic with a rich baritone that is both smooth and raspy which grabbed the audiences attention immediately.

Black Hand is a band 6 years old having gone though several line up changes and a maturation of sound announced themselves to the Region tonight with a vengeance. Releasing their first E.P. with this version of the band, Black Hand will undoubtedly generate interest and only get bigger and better.

From the Reggae inspired Throwin Bones to the radio made Locamotive their music is guitar driven by duel leads Nic Blackstone and Ty Hesterman backed up by one of the tightest rhythm sections the Region has seen anchored by Jack McNeil on drums, Mackenzie Larson on Bass with newcomer Bobby Brown, a fantastic addition, at percussion and vocals the dynamics to Black Hand just keeps getting better.

Their 45 minute set was the perfect warm up for the Iconic Wailers. The legend and spirit of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and all the legends of the genre was in the house tonight. The atmosphere was electric and love was in the air because that is Reggae's’ constant theme…. Love…. Something we need in this world right now. From “This is love” to the final song of the set “One Love” the gospel of Bob Marley was in the house and The Wailers were at the podium preaching to 400 enthusiastic recipients.

A huge shout out to Ed Roseberry the local promoter for the Hobart Art Theater. What a feather in your cap Ed to bring The Wailers to Hobart Indiana. This was their only Midwest date on this tour and I for one am so happy I got to be a part of it. This was needed, One Love……. That's what it should only be about… See you next month - NWI Entertainer

By; Paul Walters: Host of AP Radios The Independent House


This months 5 questions ties in with The Wailers show held at The Hobart Art Theater March 23rd. Supporting the show was Hammond Indiana based band Black Hand. This months 5 questions are with
Robert Nicksic, lead singer and front man for Black Hand.

AP RADIO: 1. Thank you Robert for joining us tonight and let me just say what a kickass show!. Black Hand has been a band for 6 years and you are on your third version of the band. How different has each version been different and is it now where you want it?

RN: Each version of Black Hand is us progressing as musicians. In the early years if you saw us, or listened to our music, it was more of "garage rock." Dysfunctional and chaotic, per usual. Now that
we've grown and the lineup of the band has been altered. We have a refined professional sound, that I believe can catch the ear of any individual. We play what's in our heart, and like to have fun.
Whether it's funk, rock, Latin, whatever, we aren't restricted to any specific genre, and I believe that's exactly where we need to be.

AP RADIO: 2 Throwin Bones, first song off the E.P. and Locomotive is the 3rd, both excellent tracks by the way and also very different. How does that come about? What is Black Hands sound?

RN: A lot of what we do is in the moment. Locomotive for instance, I was playing call of duty, and the bass line ran through my head so I went and hid in a bush, and thought, "hmmm.... That sounds
cool. Let me throw some lyrics on that, and see what the guys think." Then voila! Throwin' Bones, was a chord progression written by our former pianist Matt Pruim. We rewrote the song, and turned
it into a laid back smokin' song. Take you back to those summer days, in the backyard, food on the grill, music in the air, at the table throwin' bones. If any song "represents" us, it's Throwin' Bones.
Black Hand's sound is exposing the roots from which we come from, while blending old Rock N' Roll with the new.

AP RADIO: 3. Being the primary vocalist and lyrist, Where do you get inspiration for your lyrics when you're presented the music?

RN: It all depends on what the song sounds like really. If it's a Rock song, I'll use Guns N Roses or The Rolling Stones for inspiration. If it's country I'll see what Johnny and Waylon have to say. For anything Latin I love Selena and Elvis Crespo. Funk, obviously James Brown, or Sly and the family Stone. Ultimately though, I'm always using 5 individuals specifically which is Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitefield, and Holland/Dozier/Holland, who are the men behind most of Motown's lyrics. They have influenced my writing and musicianship more than anybody.

AP RADIO: 4. I've read Black Hand is where Santana meets Greatful Dead. How accurate do you feel that it

RN: Hmmm.... Black Hand is somewhere between the Grateful Dead and Santana.... if you gotta label us someway, I'll take that. Like I'd said we expose our roots and play what's at heart, so in the same writing session, there is inspiration anywhere from Jerry G to G Herbo. Each member listens to such different music, what we write pretty much depends on what we've been listening to.

AP RADIO: 5. You have the E.P. you just wrapped a very successful opening spot for the Wailers what does the rest of 2022 have in store for Black Hand?

RN: The show with The Wailers is a blessing and we are beyond grateful for this opportunity. 2022 is filled with so much. The Grateful Bear Camp out in August, as well as a few other fests with
Rainbow Farms along the way leading into Funkinetic's Harvest Fest are just a few of the things wehave planned. Now that the E.P. is out of the way our next step is to script a video for Throwin' Bones, so keep an eye out for the drop.

Thank you Robert tonight's show was one of the most electric and inspiring shows the Region has seen in awhile. The E.P. is available on their website blackhandband.net and can be found on major
streaming platforms starting next week. To contact the band for booking or any information you can email their manager at info@blackhandband.net - NWI Entertainer